Name Drop Cracks Store-robbery Case

November 27, 1985|By James H. Tolpin, Staff Writer

A keen-eared department-store security guard heard a familiar name drop during a barroom conversation, then provided the tip that led to the arrest Tuesday of a man police say robbed the Jordan Marsh store at Town Center mall west of Boca Raton.

Palm Beach County Sheriff`s detectives followed up the tip by watching as two Jordan Marsh managers identified the suspect as he sat near a swimming pool bar at the Holiday Inn at Glades Road and Interstate 95, only a half-mile east of Town Center, police said.

After the arrest, detectives searched the suspect`s room and recovered all but about $1,000 from Saturday`s $11,000 robbery, Palm Beach County Sheriff`s spokesman Mike McNamee said.

McNamee said the case broke for detectives when the security guard, who works for Jordan Marsh, phoned detectives about a bar-side conversation Monday night at the Holiday Inn Boca Raton.

Speaking through a Jordan Marsh store manager, the guard declined to talk about the incident because he was concerned for his safety.

The guard`s ears pricked up when he overheard one man introduce himself to another bar patron as ``Rob Johnson,`` McNamee said.

McNamee said the guard remembered the smooth-talking, well-dressed robber had used the name ``Ron Johnson`` before sticking a gun in the back of a Jordan Marsh manager and forcing her to hand over $11,000 from the store`s safe.

``It clicked,`` McNamee said.

He said the guard talked to ``Johnson,`` and learned he was staying at that Holiday Inn. The guard then called detectives.

On Tuesday, Detective Ronald Tomassi drove to the Holiday Inn and asked the suspect for a picture of himself, explaining they were investigating a robbery. The suspect complied, McNamee said.

Then the Jordan Marsh managers were brought to the hotel, where they identified the suspect`s picture from a photo lineup, said manager Wendy Widmann, who had had the gun stuck in her back.

Next, Widmann said she stood inside a hotel restaurant and looked out toward the pool and bar.

``It was hard to tell because he didn`t turn his head,`` Widmann said. ``He didn`t have his glasses. His hair was different.``

Detectives charged Robert Emmet Smith, 34, of Palos Park, Ill., with one count of robbing a business with a gun. He was being held in the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail, and was to have his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. today.

After the arrest, Widmann said detectives then took her to the suspect`s hotel room, where she identified the $35 black bag she said he had stolen from the store to put the money in.

McNamee said about $10,000 had been removed from the bag and put into a locked blue briefcase, which was found in the room`s closet. Detectives also found a ``very, very realistic toy pistol,`` McNamee said.

Widmann said she never saw a gun during the robbery, which occurred about 5:45 p.m., while customers were in the store.

Widmann said the robber asked to speak with her in private. When he got her alone, he put a gun in her back and led her to a display of bags.

After choosing a black bag, he led her to the store`s safe and forced her to unlock it and hand over the money, Widmann said. Then the man led Widmann to her car, took her keys and fled. The car was recovered in the parking lot later in the day.